Fruit-picker.



10.785.475 A v PATBNTED MAR.21,1905.

' 1. GARMAN.

FRUIT PICKER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.11. 190'2. RENEWED DEO. 24,A 1904.

W/TNESSES.' I A INVENTO? S? l d ffaac farina/z NiTED STATES PatentedMarch 21, 1905..

ISAAC CARMAN, OF ST. REMY, NEW YORK.

FRUIT-PICKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,475, dated March21, 1905.

Application filed December l1. 1902. Renewed December 24, 1904. SerialNo. 238,223.

' garden and conveniently cut the stems of the berries, which willthereupon fall into a receptacle provided for them, this receptacleAforming part of the fruit-picker, and when thev receptacle is full theberries may be dumped into a box for shipment.

This specification is a specific description of one form of myinvention, -while the claims deline the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similaicharacters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a perspective view of the invention. Fig. 2 is an enlargedlongitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3 3of Fig. 2, and Fig. L is an enlarged plan view of the rear portion ofthe picker.

The device comprises an elongated and essentially oval frame a., towhich is fastened a basket b, preferably of woven wire. This basket -isreduced in depth at its front end for instance, the left-hand end inFig. 2-the basket sloping from a point at said end downward to a deeprear portion located at the other end of the device. The berries arepicked at the forward end, but they roll down the Vinclined or slopingbottom of the basket, so as lie snugly in the deep main portion thereof.

Connected to the frame i by means of rings c are rocker-bars (Z, whichare located one at each side of the basket and have handles f attachedthereto. e indicates a spring, which may be of any sort desired, thisspring bearing between the handles f and serving to hold them normallyspread apart, as in Fig. 1. Said rocker-bars d are connected at theirrear portions with inwardly-disposed lateral exsions lz., pivotedtogether, as indicated ath',l

and terminating in shear-blades h2, which lie at the front of thefruit-picker and are inclined upward-andoutward, as shown. As thehandles f are moved together the'shearblades are operated and cross eachother, and

thus the stem of the berry is cut. Fig. 2 illustrates the parts duringthe act of cutting oli'l the stem of a berry.

'a' indicates guards which are fastened to the extensions and extendfrom the front portions of the handles f to the shear-blades 7b2, theseguards serving to prevent the berries from rolling sidewise out of thebasket after they are cut. The guards are fastened securely to or formedintegrally with the extensions /L of the rocker-bars d and virtuallyform parts of` said extensions.

The manner of using the invention will be apparent from the foregoingdescription. In practical operation it is my purpose to make the rings@removable, so that the fruit-pickers Inay be made in quantities andpacked for shipment by nesting the baskets together and placing theparts f1/a, and alongside of the basket. Then by merely applying therings c the parts of the basket may be assembled. and the device isready for use. This enables a great number of the devices to be packedysecurely in a relatively small space, and at the'sa'me time thedisassociated parts mayibe assembled for use with very little labor andwithout the exercise of any mechanical skill.

The flexibility of the'basket and the loose connection effected by therings c allows fully for all unevenness of movement due to thedisposition of the pivots /L with respect to the bars d.

This invention enables the berries to be picked more rapidly than byhand, and it enables the berries to be placed on the market withouthaving been touched by ones fingers, and therefore the berries are notmashed or bruised and retain their natural bloom. Further, the shears7b2 cut the stalk of the berry and leave the same with the cap on thefruit, notwithstanding that the stem is left on the berry, and the berryis picked without being torn or bruised in any way, and at the same timethe vines are in no way injured, as is now common from hand-picking.

After the berries are picked and placed in the baskets 5* any sand whichmay be on the berries is gradually sifted through the baskets, and theberries are thus delivered from the baskets in a clean condition.

Various other advantages of my invention will be apparent to personsskilled in the art of horticulture.

Various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of theinvention may be resorted to at will without departing from theessential principles thereof, and hence I consider myself entitled toall variationsof the structure shown as may lie within the terms of myclaims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A fruit-picking device comprising a basket,rocker-bars mounted at the sides thereof, handles for operating saidbars, and shearblades attached to the bars and located at the frontportion of the basket, substantially as described.

2. A fruit-picker eomprisinga basket, shearblades mounted at the frontportion thereof, means for operating said blades, and guardplatesextending from the blades rearwardly, at each side of the basket,substantially as described.

3. In a fruit-picker comprising a basket, rocker-bars mounted at eachside thereof, said bars having forwardly and inwardly disposedextensions, shear-blades fastened to said extensions and lying at thefront of the basket,

and means for operating the rocker-bars, substantially as described.

4. In a fruit-picker comprising a basket, rocker-bars mounted at eachside thereof, said bars having forwardly and inwardly disposedextensions, shear-blades fastened to said extensions and lying at thefront of the basket, means for operating the roekerbars, and guardsattached to the shear-blades and eX- tending rearwardly at each side ofthe basket, substantially as described.-

5. A fruitpicker comprising a basket,

rocker-bars mounted at each side thereof, said bars having' rearwardinwardly-disposed extensions pivoted together and forwardly and inwardlydirection extensions also pivoted together, handles attached to therocker-bars, shear-blades mounted on said forward extensions of therocker-bars, and guard-plates extending from the shear-blades rearwardat each side of the basket, substantially as described. 6. A fruitpicker comprising a basket, rocker-bars, rings mounting said bars ateach side of the basket, shear-blades supported from the rocker-bars,and means for operating said bars, substantially as described.

7. Afruit-pieker, eomprisinga basket, handles attached to the basket andprojecting upward therefrom, said handles being relatively movable, andshear-blades located at the front end of the basket and having'connection with the handles, to be operated therefrom.

8. A strawberry-picker, comprising a basket, aliandle member movablymounted thereon and projected upward therefrom to permit carrying thebasket, and means for cutting the strawberry-stem, said means beinglocated at the front end of the basket and connected with the saidhandle, to be operated therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC CARMAN. Vitnesses:

E. L. ANGLE, HENRY R. DEVVITT.

